National Incident Radio Support Cache

The NIFC Radio Cache is the largest in the world consisting of 8,000 handheld radios, 200 repeaters, and 15 portable satellite systems, containing about 10,000 pieces of equipment worth $26 million. This equipment can support about 32,000 firefighters or 53 major disasters at one time. This cache is maintained and used primarily for wildland fire, however, it may show up on any federally supported large incident or disaster such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, law enforcement and large special events (it was used in 2004 for both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions). It is located and maintained by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD) of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. The NIICD Communications Duty Officer (CDO) is the nationwide incident frequency coordinator for this cache and issues authorizations based on potential interference with nearby incidents and other agencies. The CDO coordinates aviation (VHF AM) frequency use with the FAA, the sole agency responsible for the use of aviation frequencies.

Each Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) can order 4 basic "Starter Systems" for preposition during their established fire season. A Starter System consists of 10 boxes of assorted equipment including 1 VHF Repeater/Link and 1 UHF Repeater. Generally the frequency assignments for these repeaters will be one of the standard VHF Command assignments (C1 through C6) and one of the standard UHF assignments (L1 through L7). Any UHF frequency listed on the "Logistics" table below can be used to link command repeaters and VHF AM "Victor" remote bases to the Incident Command Post and other locations such as a heliports, portable retardant plants, etc. Repeaters are installed in fiberglass cases for shipping and placement. Antennas, batteries and installation/maintenance tools are included as communications unit staff may arrive via aircraft with weight restrictions that prevent carrying tools. All command repeaters are shipped with UHF link radios installed.

If an incident grows in size and complexity communication needs will change. Incidents have different characteristics such as the type of incident (fire, earthquake, hurricane, special event, etc.) topography, size, number and types of resources assigned, type of incident management team(s) assigned, fuel type(s) burning, existence and proximity of wildland urban interface areas, distance from towns, distance from air tanker bases, the number and type of aircraft used, location of shipment receiving facilities, number of VHF handheld radios brought by arriving resources, cell phone coverage, availability and type of Internet connection, and availability of commercial electricity. Mobile radios installed (25 watts and up) in fire apparatus are not cloned and systems are designed to provide handheld radio (normally 5 watt maximum) coverage. Communication systems need to be designed that take these factors into consideration. Communication system components are available in 25 prepackaged kits. These kits are then used to build a system that meets all the incident's needs.

If one command repeater cannot provide coverage of an entire incident an additional command repeater(s) is placed in locations that collectively provide full coverage of the incident. These repeaters are linked together with UHF repeaters in an integrated system that allows each repeater to carry the traffic of all the other command repeaters. Each handheld radio is programmed with the frequencies of all the command repeaters used on the incident. This enables each handheld access to this integrated system from all locations. If remote bases are installed that a scanner cannot receive, topography and location may allow reception of link frequencies. Entering each of the frequencies on the "Logistics" table below in a scanner is a good start when searching for UHF linking frequencies.

The frequencies shown in the tables below are permanently assigned. For reasons that are not always clear, perhaps due to interference or leaving frequencies available for potential new incidents, temporary frequency authorizations may be issued on an incident by incident basis. Frequencies are selected by the communications unit leader of each incident using a database list of frequencies assigned to all federal agencies in the area of the incident. The communications unit leader selects currently unused frequencies and requests CDO authorization for their use. The CDO considers the needs of other incidents and may authorize the requested frequencies or authorize others. These authorizations cover the limited area of incidents and only for its duration. Subsequent incidents in the same area in the same year may have different frequencies assigned to it. It is not entirely clear if authorizations are carried over to the next year. Conversations with communications unit leaders at incident scenes indicate they are not. Several Radio Reference members have reported the use of some command frequency pairs for more than one year, with the name of the frequency (Command 37, etc.) staying the same.

Frequencies listed here are subject to change at any time and are not verified to be 100% accurate, complete or current in all areas.

All frequencies listed are narrowband FM (FMN). It is possible that P25 digital mode may be used in some areas. According to Interagency Aviation Tech Bulletin dated February, 2008 all aviation FM radios are required to be P25 capable.

Starting in 2014 per the National Incident Radio Support Cache User’s Guide "New for 2014" on page 2, incidents are advised to program CTCSS tones in all VHF repeaters (command) and all tactical frequencies. The communications duty officer (CDO) assigns the tones on an incident by incident basis.

Handheld radios are cloned per the Incident Radio Communications Plan (ICS 205). Mobile radios are not cloned.

Tactical

These frequencies are authorized for use in handhelds and mobiles only. Installation in base stations is not authorized.

National Interagency Fire Tactical Frequencies

Tones maybe implemented on a Fire-by-Fire basis

Frequency

Type

Description

Notes

168.0500

M

Tac 1

168.2000

M

Tac 2

168.6000

M

Tac 3

166.7250

M

Tac 5

166.7750

M

Tac 6

168.2500

M

Tac 7

The authorization for Tac 4 was terminated several years ago. A replacement frequency has not been authorized.

Some U.S. Forest Service regions and BLM state offices now have unique tactical frequencies assigned for day to day work, initial attack and locally managed (Type III, IV & V) extended attack incidents. The objective is to use the NIFC tactical frequencies on nationally managed (Type I & II) extended attack incidents only. It is unknown when other Forest Service regions and BLM state offices will be assigned unique frequencies to meet this objective nationwide.

(1) The authorization for Command 7 was withdrawn in 2011. Authorization has not been issued for a replacement pair of frequencies.

(2) Command Channels 8-12 are in the Federal Interoperability Channel Plan as NC1 and IR1-IR4. See the NTIA Federal Incident Response Channel Plan for more information. These channels are listed in the 2015 California FIRESCOPE communications plan. There is a single verified report of one of these frequency pairs being used on an incident outside of California. This would indicate these commands are available for use outside of California.

(3) Members have reported these command frequencies being used on large incidents. Some have been listed on copies of incident communication plans obtained by members. Those shown with no frequencies have been shown on publicly available incident maps, but without access to frequency information or reception reports. The commands highlighted by notation (3) may not be permanent, long term, wide area authorizations, rather are temporary use of frequencies in the pool of unused federal frequencies that are assigned on an incident by incident basis. The use of these frequencies, most especially the names, i.e. "Command 16," may not carry over to subsequent years or to incidents outside the area they were authorized for. If nothing is heard on Commands 1-12, these additional command frequencies may be in use. Members are requested to report if they are and if the same name is applied to them. Use of command channels in the gaps between those listed has not been reported.

The use of CTCSS tones on both the transmit and receive frequencies is necessary due to interference with other incidents that might be within "earshot" of other incidents, other RF sources and, in the case of incidents in proximity to Mexico, illegal use of these frequencies. The latter is common in the southern portions of the region covered by the Southern California and Southwest Geographical Area Coordination Centers.

Logistics

This information was confirmed from official information as of 2009 with updates from 2015.

The outputs can be used simplex as well.

Links for aircraft are typically dedicated to aircraft operations.

These frequencies may also be used for cross band repeaters and links.

The repeater input/output frequencies of Logistics 1 -7 are sometimes reversed for different repeater configurations and some of the inputs may be used for simplex.

Logistics

Frequency

Input

Type

Description

Notes

406.4000

415.4000

R

Logistics 1

406.5875

415.5875

R

Logistics 2

408.7875

417.7875

R

Logistics 3

410.2750

419.2750

R

Logistics 4

410.7750

419.7750

R

Logistics 5

408.6875

417.6875

R

Logistics 6

408.5000

417.5000

R

Logistics 7

406.4000

BM

Repeater Link 1

406.5875

BM

Repeater Link 2

408.7875

BM

Repeater Link 3

410.2750

BM

Repeater Link 4

410.7750

BM

Repeater Link 5

408.8000

BM

Repeater Link 6

408.5000

BM

Repeater Link 7

411.4000

BM

Repeater Link 8

408.9000

BM

Repeater Link 9

Retired 2013

411.5000

BM

Aircraft Link 1

411.8000

BM

Aircraft Link 2

412.6000

BM

Aircraft Link 3

411.7500

BM

Aircraft Link 4

411.9250

BM

Aircraft Link 5

412.1500

BM

Aircraft Link 6

412.2000

BM

Aircraft Link 7

411.2500

BM

Aircraft Link 8

410.2375

BM

Aircraft Link 9

410.2375

419.2375

RM

Aircraft Link 10

410.4375

BM

Aircraft Link 11

410.4375

419.4375

RM

Aircraft Link 12

410.6375

BM

Aircraft Link 13

410.6375

419.6375

RM

Aircraft Link 14

411.3000

BM

Camp Net 1

411.4250

BM

Camp Net 2

411.5250

BM

Camp Net 3

411.5750

BM

Camp Net 4

414.6500

BM

Camp Net 5

417.9000

BM

Camp Net 6

Aircraft links provide communications for the Incident Command Post (ICP) and/or Heliports - Helispots to/from distant VHF AM ("Victor") frequency remote bases. The aircraft transmit on Victor frequencies and the ICP and heliports/helispots receive it on UHF frequencies, which in turn, via the link and the remote base, transmit back to the aircraft on VHF AM. This situation exists when the size of the incident is large and/or the topography is mountainous sufficient to prevent VHF AM air to ground communications over the entire incident. VHF AM radios transmit at very low power, but due to elevation cover a significant area. Low power is used to reduce the chances of interfering with nearby incidents.

In some situations repeaters used for logistics purposes only are placed in high locations when the ICP and supply sources or receiving/distribution centers are in separate and distant locations.

Air VHF FM ("Foxtrot Mike") Frequencies

These include National Air Guard, National Flight Following and the 89 channel National Air to Ground system. Air to ground frequencies are assigned for initial attack to zones within each state. If the incident grows larger (extended attack) a new air to ground frequency(s) will be assigned. This assignment obtains frequencies from two sources: unused National Air to Ground system frequency(s) or unused federal government frequency(s) in the area of the incident. These assignments are made after approval by the Communications Duty Officer of the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD) at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The frequencies might not be used on other incidents or even used in the same area in the same, or subsequent, years.

Prior to 2013 there were 5 national air to air FM tactical frequencies that were used for both initial and extended attack. These 5 frequencies are now part of the National Air to Ground system and, with the exception of California, air to air tactical traffic is conducted on VHF AM aviation frequencies. California has 34 federal air to air tactics FM frequencies with 2 or 3 assigned to each of the 18 national forests in the state.

When an incident evolves into an extended attack, the air tactics group supervisor (ATGS) makes the request for extended attack air-to-air tactics and air-to-ground frequencies be assigned. When frequencies are approved it might occur while the shift is in progress. When this happens the change is announced on all the aviation frequencies in use and the command frequency, which during the initial attack phase is most often the forest net (USFS), district net (BLM), park net (NPS), refuge net (USFWS) or the fire/emergency net of any of those jurisdictions. This is gradually changing as maintaining confidentiality of frequency use is increasing.

In most circumstances the unique extended attack air-to-ground frequency change will be made effective the beginning of a shift. In this case all frequency changes are announced at shift briefings and listed in the shift Incident Action Plan. Shifts are 0600 to 1800 (day shift) and 1800 to 0600 (night shift). Almost all changes are effective at the beginning of day shift, as that is when most aviation activity occurs.

If this announcement is missed anyone monitoring a large incident that uses air support should search the federal VHF frequency band (162.0000 MHz - 174.0000 MHz, 12.5 kHz steps) to find the VHF FM air-to-ground frequencies if traffic is not received on the pre-assigned frequencies listed below.

National Flight Following is used by the almost all interagency dispatch centers, however, an increasing number of these now have their own local flight following frequency assigned for use in their areas only in addition to the national frequency. These local flight following frequencies are employed when aircraft are working within one dispatch area. These frequencies will be listed in the state by state federal government listings as soon as they have been confirmed by listeners.

According to this document there will be two, and three in some cases, permanently assigned air-to-ground FM frequencies for each initial attack zone nationwide. This information has been taken from confirmed sources and is accurate as of June 1, 2016 for all but the Alaska GACC. Alaska uses VHF-AM (Victor) frequencies for air to air and air to ground communications.

These frequencies are not assigned for air to ground exclusively nationwide. Some of the frequencies may be used as National Forest, National Park, BLM District or National Wildlife Refuge primary nets or local tactical channels. Air to ground frequencies are assigned in a manner that interference with local nets is not possible due to distance and/or topography. All the air to ground frequencies are for aircraft to handheld and mobile only, base stations are not allowed on them.

(1) Official 2016 SACC source shows Air to Ground Channel 69 as 159.4500. AN official 2016 nationwide source shows Channel 69 as 169.2000 for use in the Bozeman-Yosemite NP zone. Previous year's data show Channel 73 as 169.2000. The conflicts cannot be resolved with existing source data.

Air VHF AM ("Victor") Frequencies

The FAA has jurisdiction over the VHF AM aviation band. Authorizations are issued each year by April 1st and expire on November 1st. All frequencies are subject to change each year.

All dispatch zones have 1-3 air-to-air frequencies assigned for initial attack, depending on the wildland fire workload of those zones.

Temporary, incident specific frequencies, are assigned to extended attack incidents, by NIFC following authorization by the FAA. The table below shows permanent and nationally assigned frequencies.

(1) National Multicom-Natural Resources. This is a nationwide assigned frequency that may be used by any aircraft, at any time, involved in any natural resource/environmental activity, be that federal, state or local. Should be used not to exceed 40 nautical miles at 10,000 feet.

(2) Multicom is defined as: activities of a temporary, seasonal, emergency nature, etc, and for airports with no tower, FSS (Flight Service Station, or UNICOM (private fixed base operator).

(3) These frequencies are not designated for exclusive use by the federal government or wildland fire suppression operations.

Information per FAA directive dated November, 2012 and posted on the NIFC website.

(2) Rope Assisted Delivery System (RADS) is the delivery of cargo using a "sling" line attached to the underside of a helicopter. The cargo is contained in a large rope net. The length of the sling line varies depending on terrain and the heights of trees. Sling lines are then called "long lines" or "short lines."

National Airtanker Base Information and Radio Frequencies

This information was confirmed from several credible sources as of 2014.

These are VHF-AM "Victor" frequencies.

These frequencies are assigned and authorized by the FAA, not NIFC. They are subject to annual revision by the FAA.

Most bases use 123.9750. All bases are listed, in spite of the apparent redundancy, to show where current air tanker and retardant reload bases are located.

The listed bases may have season long or partial season air tankers, or may only be used for reloading retardant for an active incident nearby.

Most air tankers do not stay in one place for an entire season. They might start in the southwestern U.S. in late April or May, When monsoonal rains arrive in early July they are moved to areas where the burning conditions have become critical. Contracts schedules are determined in late winter and early spring, with a set schedule that moves the aircraft to match the average or typical peak fire season of each geographical area. This schedule is subject to change if the fire season varies from the projection.

State owned air tankers in California are not national resources and with very few exceptions don't leave the state. Most stay at the same base, but are temporarily pre-positioned in other areas as conditions dictate.

SEAT stands for "Single Engine Air Tankers." They are similar in appearance to crop dusters as they are modified agricultural aircraft. Retardant capacity ranges from 400-800 gallons.

MAFFS stands for Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System. There are (8) C-130 (Hercules) military aircraft that are owned by the U.S. Forest Service and maintained and flown with military personnel. They can be mobilized or pre-positioned at a limited number of civilian airtanker bases when all civilian air tankers (under contract) have been committed or are expected to be committed. They are housed at one Air Force base and three National Guard bases. Those bases are: the 146th Airlift Wing, California National Guard, Port Hueneme; the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard, Charlotte; and the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne.

The following notations are used in the tables below

(1) S2=Cal Fire air tanker, L=Federal large air tanker, S=Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT), M=Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), V= Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT)

(2) Notes may include the following information:

Italicized = Bases where air tankers are reloaded only. All the listed bases are able to reload the aircraft types listed for that base and most of them have air tankers assigned to them for a period during the season. Others are not assigned air tankers on the schedule and are called "reload bases." Short term overnight staging of aircraft at reload bases occurs when a nearby incident is going to use them the next day. When they are no longer needed for an incident they are released to return to their assigned base.

Most MAFFS air tanker bases are for reloading only and cannot accommodate overnight parking. MAFFS reloading bases will be italicized and show "Reload Only." followed by a number that can be accommodated at the same time, e.g. "Reload Only (1)". Those that can accommodate overnight parking are noted with "overnight," followed by a number that can be parked. For example: Overnight (4). Obviously, overnight bases can reload also.

Bases with the notation "SEAT" are only capable of loading SEAT aircraft and none of the larger airtankers.

Large air tankers consist of a variety of aircraft with retardant capacities of 2,000-3,000 gallons.

Very Large Air tankers (VLAT) are modified 747's and DC-10's. The 747 has a retardant capacity of 20,000 gallons and the DC-10 12,000 gallons.

Agency abbreviations: BIA=Bureau of Indian Affairs; BLM=Bureau of Land Management; USFS=United States Forest Service

Alaska Geographical Area Coordination Center

Frequency

State

Air Tanker Base

FAA ID

Aircraft Capability (1)

Managing Agency & Notes (2)

123.9750

AK

Delta Junction

BIG

L-S

DOF

123.9750

AK

Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks)

FBK

L

BLM

123.9750

AK

Kenai

ENA

L-S

DOF

123.9750

AK

McGrath

MCG

L-S

DOF

123.9750

AK

Palmer

PAQ

L-S

DOF

123.9750

AK

Tanacross (Tok)

TSG

L-S

DOF

DOF=Alaska Division of Forestry

California Geographical Area Coordination Centers (North Ops and South Ops)

Frequency

State

Air Tanker Base

FAA ID

Aircraft Capability (1)

Managing Agency & Notes (2)

Unk

CA

Alturas

AAT

S

BLM SEAT Reload only

123.9750

CA

Bishop

BIH

S2-L-S

USFS Reload only

123.9750

CA

Castle (Merced)

MER

S2-L-S

USFS Reload only Replaced Stockton as of 2014

123.9750

CA

Chester

O05

S2-L-S

USFS

123.9750

CA

Chico

CIC

S2-L-S-M

Cal Fire--M Reload only (1)

123.9750

CA

Columbia

O22

S2-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Fortuna (Rohnerville)

FOT

S2-L-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Fresno

FAT

S2-L-S-M

USFS--M Reload only (1)

123.9750

CA

Grass Valley

GOO

S2-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Hemet (Ryan Field)

HMT

S2-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Hollister

3O7

S2-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Lancaster (Fox Field)

WJF

S2-L-S-M

USFS--M Reload only (1)

126.9250

CA

McClellan

'MCC

S2-L-S-M-V

Cal Fire--M Reload only (1)

123.9750

CA

Paso Robles

PRB

S2-L-S-M

Cal Fire--M Reload only (1)

123.9750

CA

Porterville

PTV

S2-L-S

USFS/Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Ramona

RNM

S2-L*-S

Cal Fire--*Will only accommodate the P3 Orion

123.9750

CA

Redding

RDD

S2-L-S

Cal Fire/USFS

123.9750

CA

San Bernardino

SBD

S2-L-S-M-V

USFS/BLM--M Overnight (1)

123.9750

CA

Santa Maria

SMX

S2-L-S-M

USFS--M Reload only (1)

Unk

CA

Sonoma

STS

S2-L-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Santa Rosa

STS

S2-L-S

Cal Fire

123.9750

CA

Siskiyou Co. (Montague)

SIY

S2-L-S

USFS Reload Base

N/A

CA

Stockton

SCK

Closed-replaced by Castle 2014

123.9750

CA

Ukiah

UKI

S2-S

Cal Fire

TBD

CA

Victorville

VCV

S2-V

Cal Fire Reload Base

Cal Fire=California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cal Fire uses 23 Grumman S2T "Turbine Tankers." Initially 23 of these aircraft were obtained by the U.S. Forest Service from the military as surplus. The Forest Service retained ownership and leased the planes to Cal Fire. The state replaced all 23 of these aircraft with newly built planes between 2002 and 2005 and now have ownership. Their capacity is 1200 gallons of retardant and are highly maneuverable. They are unique in that they are new aircraft built as airtankers, are owned by a state and are not used planes with a history of military use.

Federal Government Common

These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government.

These frequencies are often used as tacticals, or commons, in National Parks.

See Federal Government Itinerant. As of January, 2008 the NTIA Redbook contained direction that 168.3500 and 163.1000 are to be used as a repeater pair, with 168.3500 being the input and 163.1000 being the output. This repeater pair is to be used for temporary, or itinerant, repeater placement. Simplex use is permitted if the four new federal common frequencies are already in use. Some agencies are now using the new commons in place of this repeater pair's frequencies. In spite of the direction there is widespread use of these two frequencies for simplex, tactical and travel purposes.

Government Common

Frequency

Input

Type

Notes

163.1000

BM

(1)

168.3500

BM

(2)

168.3500

163.1000

R

163.7125

M

(3)

167.1375

M

(3)

168.6125

M

(3)

173.6250

M

(3)

(1) Often used as an incident heliport "deck frequency" for coordinating air traffic near and at tempoary incident heliports.

(2) This shows up as "Travel Net" on dozens of local and GACC channel plans in the western states.

(3) New federal simplex common frequencies allocated in 2005.

Intra-Crew Communications

Federal Agency Common Frequencies

Handheld use only.

Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses. This is not an exclusive assignment as these are VHF federal common frequencies and may be used by any agency at any time or location. These crew nets are to be used for crew logistics only and tactical communications are not allowed.

Intra-Crew

Frequency

Type

Description

163.7125

M

National Intra-Crew Mobilization at Crew Base & Travel Net

167.1375

M

Primary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene

168.6125

M

Secondary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene

173.6250

M

Tertiary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene

Intra-Squad Radio (ISR)

Family Radio Service (FRS) communications equipment shall not be used by anyone associated with federal wildland fire incidents or in instances that safeguard human life or property. This applies to agency, military, and contractor personnel. NTIA Manual, section 7.5.8, states: “federal entities may not purchase and operate FRS radios for planned communications operations that safeguard human life or property”. Additionally, the Departments of Agriculture and The Interior have policies limiting the use of FRS radios.

There is a viable option called Intra-Squad Radio (ISR). These radios are used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for tactical communications and the NIICD has been given authorization to operate on the frequencies.

Intra-Squad Radio Frequencies

Frequency

Type

Channel

396.87500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 1

397.12500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 2

397.17500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 3

397.37500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 4

397.42500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 5

397.47500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 6

397.55000

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 7

397.95000

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 8

398.05000

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 9

399.42500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 10

399.47500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 11

399.72500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 12

399.92500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 13

399.97500

M

Intra-Squad Radio Channel 14

Non-Federal Forest Firefighting Agencies

The following frequencies may be authorized to fixed, land and mobile stations operated by non-Federal forest firefighting agencies on a secondary non-interfering basis.

West of the Mississippi River these frequencies are also used for air-to-ground and/or the local nets of National Forests.

Non-Federal Forest Firefighting

Frequency

Type

Description

Notes

170.4750

BM

East of Miss. River

171.4250

BM

East of Miss. River

171.5750

BM

East of Miss. River

172.2750

BM

East of Miss. River

(1)

170.4250

BM

West of Miss. River

170.5750

BM

West of Miss. River

171.4750

BM

West of Miss. River

(1)

172.2250

BM

West of Miss. River

172.3750

BM

West of Miss. River

(1) Frequency may also be used by non-federal conservation agencies for repeater operation only.

CTCSS Tones and NAC (Network Access Code - Digital P25)

Tone Number (1)

Tone Frequency

NAC Digital

NAC Hex (2)

Notes

1

110.9

1109

$455

3

2

123.0

1230

$4CE

3

3

131.8

1318

$526

3

4

136.5

1365

$555

3

5

146.2

1462

$5B6

3

6

156.7

1567

$61F

3

7

167.9

1679

$68F

3

8

103.5

1035

$40B

3

9

100.0

1000

$3E8

3

10

107.2

1072

$430

3

11

114.8

1148

$47C

3

12

127.3

1273

$4F9

3

13

141.3

1413

$585

3

14

151.4

1514

$5EA

3

15

162.2

1622

$656

3

16

192.8

1928

$788

3

17

67.0

$29E

4

18

71.9

$2CF

4

19

74.4

$3E8

4

20

77.0

$302

4

21

79.7

$31D

4

22

82.5

$339

4

23

85.4

$356

4

24

88.5

$375

4

25

91.5

$393

4

26

94.8

$3B4

4

27

97.4

$3CE

4

28

118.8

$4A4

4

29

173.8

$6CA

4

30

179.9

$707

4

31

186.2

$746

4

32

203.5

$7F3

4

(1) The correlation between specific tones and tone labels shown is standard in California, but not necessarily in other areas of the country. See note (2) for additional information.

(2) An official correlation between tones and hex NAC does not exist nationwide, i.e. 110.9 = $455 in California, but might be $7G9 or any random hex NAC in other parts of the country, even within the same agency. The FIRESCOPE (FIrefighting RESources in California Oganized for Potential Emergencies, a fire agency/department "all risk incident" coordinating organization) tone list uses a CTCSS to hex NAC conversion table proposed when digital radio first came into use. The FCC did not choose to make the table mandatory, however, many fire agencies have chosen to use it.

(3) Tones 1-16 are standard nationwide for the U.S. Forest Service. Some Forest Service regions have yet to comply and some have given the tones different number designations, i.e. The being the numbering with Tone 1 being 100.0, Tone 2 being 103.5, Tone 3 107.2, etc. It is likely that it will take several years before all USFS Regions are in compliance.

(4) Beginning in 2014 FIRESCOPE added tones 17-32 to this list. If a radio only has a capacity of 16 tones, the first 16 are programmed into the radio. The widely used 16 channel per group Bendix-King radios have a capacity of 16 switchable tones and as a result little use of Tones 17-32 is anticipated on wildland fires.

As noted in (3) above tone use is not standardized at the federal or state level for wildland fire agencies or departments. This can be confusing, especially when fire or law enforcement personnel in one area of the country are sent to others areas of the country where the workload is peaking. Example fire prevention personnel in northern California are often sent to Arizona and New Mexico in April, May and June during the peak human caused fire season in the southwest U.S. Unless both mobile and handheld radios are cloned disparate tones have to be dealt with. Personnel and resources on large "national" incidents have their handheld radios cloned at the incident scene, so the need for standardization on these types of incidents is not as great. Agencies that border other states and/or regions making initial attacks across boundary lines can encounter difficulties when different tones and different tone labels are used. There is probably no better example of this than the BLM in Nevada. Tones used and how they are labeled differ among the 6 districts in that state.

Difficulties with disparate tones were encountered on the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, June 2013, where 19 members of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew were killed. Communications during initial attack and when fires blowup are challenging enough without adding the disparate tone issue.

In many areas of the country the USFS, NPS, BLM and USFWS are migrating toward the 16 California standard tones listed here, even without national direction. At some point in the future national direction regarding tones might be forthcoming.